Triumph, tragedy of Soviet space shuttle

Russia is marking a space achievement which turned tragic. The Buran space shuttle was a technological triumph which became a practical failure, largely through the messy collapse of the Soviet Union.

The Buran was, in many ways, a superior craft than the U.S. version as it could carry five tonnes more weight. It's only flight and landing in 1986 was completely un-manned.

“It was something magnificent! It was a rocket and a plane at the same time. It flies to space as a rocket and it turns into a plane on its way back. And as an airplane it was magnificent. With an overall weight of about 80 tonnes it was as maneuverable as a fighter jet,” says Magomed Talboev, who was a test pilot.

Sadly the financial crisis which gripped Russia after the communism's fall stopped the Buran programme.

“Energia-Buran was a major project that required an enormous amount of manpower. In the 80s over a thousand officers annually were recruited to Baikonur for this programme. But after the landing, the programme was cancelled and we had no choice but to retire,” said Gennady Dmitriev, ex-Buran programme employee.

The Buran began in 1974 as an answer to the U.S. Space Shuttle programme. The work continued for almost 20 years and cost billions of dollars.

Luckily the Buran programme does have a lasting legacy. The U.S. is planning to use a modified version of the Buran engines for a new space vehicle – Orion.

It's expected to take the place of the Space Shuttle in the next decade.